Wheelhouse Weekly, April 23, 2024

Volume 30… Number 17, April 23, 2024

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

• MM&P Government Group Representative Randi Ciszewski Honored for Defending Mariners’ Rights
• MAERSK KINLOSS Helps Dozens of People Drifting in Inflatable Boat Off Morocco
• Biden Administration Announces $316 Million in New Grants for Ferry Systems
• Negotiations Underway To Secure Release of Crew Aboard Ship Seized by Iran
• PLUS: UAW Wins Historic Union Election at Chattanooga Volkswagen Plant
• MM&P Plan Office Update: Trustees Approve Increase in Benefits

Mark Your Calendar:

• Offshore Membership Meeting in the Seattle Hall on April 24
• Offshore Membership Meeting in the Boston Hall on May 15

Job Opportunities:

• Offshore Jobs Available

And:

• MITAGS-East Academic Notes
• MITAGS–West Academic Notes

MM&P GOVERNMENT GROUP REPRESENTATIVE RANDI CISZEWSKI HONORED FOR DEFENDING MARINERS’ RIGHTS

Randi Ciszewski, who represents the MM&P Federal Employees Membership Group, has been honored by Seafarers International House for her work on behalf of Civil Service mariners.

She received the award at an April 18 ceremony in New York City attended by members of her family, representatives of national and international maritime unions, shipping companies, and charitable organizations.

Ciszewski has advocated for the rights of Civil Service mariners for well over 40 years: first as Military Sealift Command labor relations director and for the past 22 years as an MM&P official.

“My goal has always been to advocate for human rights as well as union rights,” she said.

“Every worker has the right to show up for work and be accepted. No employer should be a safe harbor for intolerance or hatred of any kind.”

Ciszewski is a powerful voice on maritime issues who has dedicated her career to protecting the rights of Civil Service mariners who sail with MM&P.

She relies on her extensive experience in employment law, negotiation, and conflict resolution to administer federal terms and conditions of employment.

She is the recipient of numerous professional honors, including the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award.

“There is no more knowledgeable, dedicated or resolute representative in our organization than Randi Ciszewski,” said MM&P President Don Marcus.

“She is foremost in protecting our members’ rights.”

“We thank the Seafarers International House for recognizing her outstanding service.”

Katie Higginbottom, head of the International Transport Workers’ Federation Seafarers’ Trust since 2018, was also recognized at the April 18 event.

She works in close cooperation with international maritime unions and other organizations on issues that affect seafarers’ wellbeing.

Tim Nolan, president and chief executive officer of TOTE Group, was also honored at the event.

Seafarers International House has assisted seafarers in need since 1873.

The New York port mission helps support more than 15,000 seafarers in the ports of Albany, Baltimore, Duluth, New Haven, and New York and New Jersey.
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MAERSK KINLOSS HELPS DOZENS OF PEOPLE DRIFTING IN INFLATABLE BOAT OFF MOROCCO

The crew of MAERSK KINLOSS helped a large group of people who were drifting in an inflatable boat off the coast of Morocco on April 19.

Aboard KINLOSS at the time were Master Vitaly Kuznetsoff, Chief Mate Mitchell Chisholm, Second Mate Benedict Choi, and Third Mate Benjamin Engel.

The crew of the containership received the distress call from Las Palmas Search and Rescue at around 0530, when KINLOSS was approximately 15 nm from the boat, which was stranded about 120 nm from the Canary Islands and 35 nm off Morocco.

KINLOSS diverted to provide assistance since the rescue boat AL MANAR, which had been dispatched from Morocco, would take at least four hours to arrive.

Once KINLOSS was on site, the crew passed a line to the smaller boat to keep it alongside. More lines were later passed.

The 20-foot inflatable boat had an outrig engine and was overcrowded: onboard there were at least 50 people, including several children.

“While waiting for the rescue boat to arrive, our crew provided blankets, water, fruits and sandwiches for the people inside the boat,” Kuznetsoff said.

“Fortunately, the weather was calm, which made the operation that much better.”

The rescue boat arrived, and transfer was completed by 1146.

“All refugees safely onboard the rescue boat,” the captain said. “Mission completed!

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BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES $316 MILLION IN NEW GRANTS FOR FERRY SYSTEMS

The Biden administration has announced the availability of $316 million in new grants for the country’s passenger ferry systems.

“We’re pleased to make $316 million available to help communities modernize their ferry service so that Americans have better, easier, and more reliable options,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in announcing the grants on April 17.

“I have seen firsthand how, for many Americans in many different parts of the country, ferries are the best and sometimes the only way to get where they need to go.”

The grants, which are being funded under President Biden’s 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will pay for:

— capital projects to buy, replace, or modernize passenger ferries, terminals, and related equipment in urban areas;

— ferry services in rural areas, including capital, planning, and operating costs; and

— the purchase of ferries that reduce emissions by using alternative fuels or on-board energy storage systems.

“Passenger ferries provide critical and cost-effective travel for people throughout the United States, but many ferry agencies are not able to maintain all of their vessels in a state of good repair and make necessary investments in safety,” said FTA Acting Administrator Veronica Vanterpool.

“FTA is pleased to provide federal support to help modernize and expand how people travel by water while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, advancing equity by making transit available to more people, and creating good-paying jobs.”

Last year, the Biden administration made $220.2 million in new grants available to the nation’s ferry systems.

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NEGOTIATIONS UNDERWAY TO SECURE RELEASE OF CREW ABOARD SHIP SEIZED BY IRAN

Mediterranean Shipping Company says it is working through “diplomatic and commercial channels” to convince Iran to free the crew of the Portuguese-flagged MSC ARIES, which was seized on April 13 near the Strait of Hormuz.

Revolutionary Guard commandos boarded the ship by helicopter and took it into Iranian waters, reportedly in retaliation for the April 1 bombing by Israel that killed seven Revolutionary Guard officers, including two senior commanders.

MSC leases the ARIES from Gortal Shipping, an affiliate of Zodiac Maritime, which is partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.

Iran has come under pressure to release the crew from the vessel’s flag state, Portugal, as well as from India, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Russia, all of which have crewmembers aboard the vessel.

Media in India reported that the 17 Indian nationals have been allowed to make calls to their families, and that a female deck cadet had been permitted to disembark and return home.



Crewmembers have reportedly told their families that they are not under arrest and are being treated well.

They said food is being provided and they are continuing their work aboard the vessel, which is anchored offshore.

MSC released a statement last week reporting that all crewmembers are safe and that “discussions with the Iranian authorities are in progress to secure their earliest release.”

“We are also working with the Iranian authorities to have the cargo discharged,” the company added.

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UAW WINS HISTORIC UNION ELECTION AT CHATTANOOGA VOLKSWAGEN PLANT

The United Autoworkers notched a significant victory last week at Volkswagen’s plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where 73 percent of workers voted to be represented by the union.

According to Reuters, the new union in Volkswagen marks “the first auto plant in the South to unionize via election since the 1940s and the first foreign-owned auto plant in the South to do so.”

“The victory at Volkswagen’s plant in Tennessee marks a historic milestone for workers across the state and the broader South,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler.

“We congratulate the Volkswagen workers, our UAW family, and UAW President Shawn Fain for this monumental victory.”

In 2014 and 2019, the UAW lost elections at the Chattanooga plant: its landslide victory in the election that ended on April 19 may indicate that change is on the horizon.

“We are organizing like hell to help thousands of autoworkers in this country, primarily in the South, to win their union and raise the living standards for the working-class,” said UAW President Sean Fain.

“For decades, non-union auto companies have used fear, uncertainty, and division to break union drives in our industry. Those days are now over.”

The UAW launched its campaign in the South after the successful contract negotiations that ended strikes at the nation’s three unionized automakers, General Motors, Ford and Stellantis.

Now the union’s targets include nine foreign automakers beyond VW—BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Mercedes, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, and Volvo—as well as three U.S.-based electric vehicle makers—Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid.

At least 30 percent of workers at a Hyundai plant in Alabama and a Toyota plant in Missouri have signed cards authorizing the UAW to represent them.

The 30 percent threshold demonstrates a “showing of interest,” which allows the union to file an election petition with a regional office of the National Labor Relations Board.

The next test of the UAW’s campaign to win southern auto plants will come in a mid-May vote at a Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama.
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TRUSTEES APPROVE INCREASE IN BENEFITS

At their last meetings in March 2024, the Board of Trustees agreed to increase the following benefits:

MM&P Health & Benefit Plan Increase—Orthodontic Maximum Lifetime Benefit

The Trustees agreed to increase the maximum lifetime orthodontic benefit to $3,000.

They made the decision after hearing what it would cost the Plan to increase by $1,000 the previous maximum lifetime orthodontic benefit, which was $2,000.

The increase to $3,000 of the maximum lifetime orthodontic benefit is effective from Jan. 1, 2024.

MM&P Adjustable Pension Plan—Benefit Increases

Effective Jan. 1, 2024, the following provisions of the Rules and Regulations are amended as follows:

1. Article I (Definitions), Section 1.24 (PAY), subsection J. shall be amended to read as follows: Pay of each Participant taken into account for any Plan Year prior to January 1, 2024 shall not exceed $120,000. Effective for Plan Years on or after January 1, 2024, Pay of each Participant taken into account for any Plan Year shall not exceed $140,000. Regardless, Pay shall not exceed the dollar limit under Code § 401(a)(17), as adjusted from time to time for cost-of-living adjustments.

2. Article V (Pension Benefits), Section 5.01 (Regular Pension Benefit), subsection (A) (Base Benefit), paragraph (1), the first sentence shall be amended to read as follows:

The Base Benefit earned during a Plan Year prior to January 1, 2024, is equal to 1.2% of Pay for the Plan Year, or, if the Participant’s years and partial years of Pension Credit are greater than or equal to 20, 1.6% of Pay for that Plan Year.

Effective January 1, 2024, the Base Benefit earned during a Plan Year on or after January 1, 2024 is equal to 1.4% of Pay for the Plan Year, or, if the Participant’s years and partial years of Pension Credit are greater than or equal to 20, 1.8% of Pay for that Plan Year.
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OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN THE SEATTLE HALL ON APRIL 24

MM&P Pacific Ports Vice President Lars Turner has scheduled an Offshore membership meeting in the Seattle Hall on Wednesday, April 24 at 1100, following job call.

MM&P President Don Marcus will participate and give his report.

There will also be a presentation by a representative of the Washington Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) Program and the Washington College Savings Plan (529s).

The Washington GET and the Washington 529 programs help families save for future higher education expenses.

All Offshore members and applicants in the area are encouraged to attend the meeting.

The Seattle Hall is located at:

15208 52nd Ave. S, Ste. 100

Seattle, WA 98188-2318.

The phone number is: 206-441-8700.
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OFFSHORE MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN THE BOSTON HALL ON MAY 15

There will be an Offshore membership meeting in the MM&P Boston Union Hall on Wednesday, May 15, at 1200.

MM&P Secretary-Treasurer Don Josberger will participate and give his report.

The Boston Hall is located at:

12 Channel Street Suite 606-A

Boston, MA 02210-2333

The phone number is: 617-671-0769

All Offshore members are encouraged to attend the meeting.

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OFFSHORE JOBS AVAILABLE

CM needed for Cape Horn FOS ASAP. PRO CARD and Early Return from vacation! Vessel underway.

CM Needed for Cape Henry ROS, PRO CARD and Early Return from vacation.

Master USNS Pililaau needed.

CM’s Needed for LMSR’s, please email jhope@bridgedeck.org with any questions or visit any Offshore Hall.

2M needed for PAX.

1AE SLNC Goodwill.

3AE SLNC Star.
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MITAGS ACADEMIC NOTES

For registration contact our Admissions Department: 866.656.5568 or admissions@mitags.org

Classes are 5-day unless otherwise noted

Class dates followed by an * are full
AB – Able Seaman (5-Day): 06/10/24, 09/16/24

AIS-1 – Automatic Identifications Systems Orientation (1-Day): Not currently scheduled

ARPA-OIC– Automated Radar Plotting Aids (4-Day): 08/12/24, 11/04/24

AZIPOD (2-Day): Contact Admissions

BRM – Bridge Resource Management (5-Day): Not currently scheduled

BRMP –Bridge Resource Management for Pilots (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

BRMP-EMR –Bridge Resource Management for Pilots with Emergency Shiphandling – (Now also included in BRMP-Refresher) (3-Day): Not currently scheduled

BRMP-Refresher (Now including Emergency Shiphandling for Pilots) (3-Day): Contact Admissions

BT – Basic Safety Training (5-Day): 05/06/24, 09/09/24

BT-Revalidation (2-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years): 06/10/24, 09/30/24, 10/28/24

BT-Refresher (3-day): 06/10/24, 09/30/24, 10/28/24

CHS-OIC – Cargo Handling Basic (5-Day) : Not currently scheduled

[CMM – Chief Mate and Master Courses]

ADVSTB-CMM – Advanced Stability (5-Day): 04/29/24, 06/24/24, 10/07/24, 12/09/24

ADVWX-CMM – Advanced Meteorology (5-Day): 06/17/24, 09/23/24, 12/16/24

CHS-CMM – Advanced Cargo Operations (10 Days): 10/14/24

CM-OPS 1 – Chief Mate Operations (5-Day): 07/08/24, 12/09/24

CM-OPS 2 Maersk – Chief Mate Operations II Maersk Specific (5-Day): 07/15/24, 12/16/24

ECDIS – Electronic Chart Display Information Systems (5-Day): 08/12/24, 11/11/24

LMS – Leadership and Managerial Skills (Management Level – Formerly MCL-CMM) (5-Day): 08/12/24, 11/18/24

MPP-CMM – Marine Propulsion Plants (5-Day): 09/30/24

(DCS-1 available on request – contact Admissions)

SHMGT-CMM- Ship Management (5-Day): 10/28/24

SHS-ADV-I-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 1) (5-Day): 05/06/24*, 06/03/24*, 07/08/24, 08/05/24*, 09/09/24, 09/30/24, 11/04/24, 12/02/24

SHS-ADV-II-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 2) (5-Day): 05/13/24*, 06/10/24, 07/15/24, 08/12/24*, 09/16/24, 10/07/24, 11/11/24, 12/09/24

**SHS-ADV-I & II are now approved to include SAR-CMM assessments at MITAGS**

VPEN-CMM – Voyage Planning & Electronic Navigation (5-Day): 11/04/24

WKP-CMM – Advanced Watchkeeping (5-Day): 09/16/24

WX-HW-PAC – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Pacific Ocean (2-day) – 05/11/24, 07/27/24, 11/16/24

CIW-DPA/IA – Continual Improvement Workshop: Designated Person Ashore & Internal Auditor (3-Day) ** This course is NOT covered by the MATES Program **

Online: 05/15/24

CIW-SMS – Continual Improvement Workshop: Successful Safety Management (2-Day) – Online: Not Currently Scheduled

CNAV-OIC– Celestial Navigation (15-Day): 05/06/24

CRISIS-COMMS – Crisis Communications (1-Day): Not currently scheduled

CRSMGT – Crisis Management and Human Behavior (1-Day): Not currently scheduled

CDMGT – Crowd Management (1-Day): Not currently scheduled

CSE – Confined Space Entry (3-Day): Not currently scheduled

CSE-AWR – Confined Space Entry Awareness (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

DDE – Great Lakes (20-Day) : Not currently scheduled

ECDIS for Pilots (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

ERM – Engine Resource Management (5-Day): 12/09/24

ADV-FF – Advanced Fire-Fighting (4-day): Not currently scheduled

FF-BADV – Fire Fighting Combined Basic & Advanced (5-Day): 05/06/24, 09/09/24

FF-ADV-Rev (1-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years) – Advanced Fire Fighting Revalidation: 06/12/24, 10/02/24, 10/30/24

FF-ADV-REF (2-day) – Advanced Fire Fighting Refresher: 06/13/24, 10/03/24

FSM – Fatigue, Sleep, & Medications (1-Day): Not currently scheduled

Online: Not currently scheduled

GL-Pilot – Great Lakes Pilotage Familiarization (2-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

GMDSS – Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (10-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

HAZ – Hazardous Materials (5 day): 05/06/24, 08/26/24, 12/02/24

LAP – License Advancement Program for Mate to Master (20-Day): 07/22/24, 10/07/24

LAP-Great Lakes – License Advancement Program – Great Lakes (15-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

LAP-ORG3rd – License Advancement Program for Original 3rd Mate, Oceans, Any Gross

Ton License (15-Day): 06/03/24

LEG – Legal Aspects of Pilotage (1-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

LNG-BADV – Basic and Advanced IGF Code Operations (3 Day): 05/20/24, 06/17/24, 10/21/24

LTS –Leadership and Teamworking Skills (Formerly MCL-OIC) (1-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

MEECE – Management of Electrical and Electronic Control Equipment (Assessments /not included): 12/02/24

MED-PIC – Medical Person in Charge (10-Day): 05/13/24, 08/19/24, 09/30/24

MED-PIC-REF– Medical Person in Charge Refresher: 05/06/24, 07/29/24, 11/18/24

MED-PRO – Medical Care Provider: (5-Day): 05/13/24, 07/08/24, 08/19/24

MED-DOT-DA – Dept. of Transportation Drug & Alcohol Testing (1-Day): 05/05/24, 05/18/24, 07/13/24, 08/03/24, 08/24/24, 10/05/24, 11/17/24

[MSC – Military Sealift Command Courses]

MSC-ATO-II – Military Sealift Command Anti-Terrorism Officer II (5-Day): 08/19/24

MSC-ATO-III – Military Sealift Command Anti-Terrorism Officer III (1-Day): 08/23/24

MSC-CBRD-OFF – Military Sealift Command Chemical, Biological, Radiological Defense Officer (5-Day): 07/08/24

MSC-CBRD-1 – Military Sealift Command Chemical, Biological, Radiological Defense Orientation (Basic) (1-Day): 05/09/24, 06/07/24, 08/08/24, 09/12/24, 10/31/24

MSC-DC – Military Sealift Command Damage Control (2-day): 05/10/24, 06/07/24, 08/09/24, 09/13/24, 11/01/24

MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day – Evening Class): 05/10/24, 06/07/24, 08/09/24, 09/13/24, 11/01/24

MSC-FF-HELO (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

MSC-SMA – Military Sealift Command Small Arms Qualifications (4-Day): 05/13/24, 06/10/24, 07/15/24, 08/12/24, 09/16/24, 11/04/24

MSC-Security Watch Basic (1-Day/ 8-hour): 05/11/24, 06/08/24, 08/10/24, 09/14/24, 11/02/24

MSC-Security Watch Advanced (1-Day): 05/12/24, 06/09/24, 07/14/24, 08/11/24, 09/15/24, 11/03/24

MSC-Ship’s Reaction Force (3-Day): 05/17/24, 06/14/24, 07/19/24, 08/16/24, 09/20/24, 11/08/24

NDMS-ENAV – Navigational Decision Making Series – Best Practice in eNav (3-Day): Not currently scheduled

NSAP-MMP – Navigational Skills Assessment Program-MM&P (2-Day): 05/15/24*, 05/17/24*, 08/19/24*, 08/21/24*, 12/09/24*, 12/11/24*

PSC – Personal Survival Craft (Lifeboatman) (5-Day): 06/17/24, 09/23/24

PSC-REF – Personal Survival Craft Refresher (2-Day): 06/06/24, 09/26/24

RFPNW – Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (3-day): Not Currently Scheduled

ROR-1 – Radar Observer Renewal (1-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

ROR-1N – Radar Observer Renewal Evening Classes (1-Night): 06/12/24

ROU-OIC – Radar Observer Program – Unlimited: 08/05/24, 10/28/24

SAR – Search & Rescue – (Now with OIC and CMM assessments) (3-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

SHS-BAS-OIC – Basic Shiphandling: 04/29/24, 07/22/24

SHS-EMR5 – Emergency Shiphandling (5 Day): 07/22/24, 10/14/24, 12/16/24

STB-OIC – Ship Construction and Basic Stability: Not currently scheduled

TCNAV/CO – Terrestrial Navigation and Compasses (15-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

TPIC – Tankerman Person in Charge: Not Currently Scheduled

TRAC-TUG-2 (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

TTT – ** NOT covered by the MATES Program **: Not Currently Scheduled

VPDSD – Vessel Personnel with Designated Security Duties: Not Currently Scheduled

VSO – Vessel Security Officer (3-Day): 05/31/24, 08/26/24, 12/04/24

WKP-OIC – Watchkeeping (Operational Level) (10-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

WX-OIC –Meteorology (Operational Level): 07/29/24
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MITAGS–WEST ACADEMIC NOTES

You can enroll online at www.mitags.org or contact our Admissions Department 866.656.5568 or admissions@mitags.org

April 2024

24th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation
29-10 Watchkeeping (Operational Level)

May 2024

6-10 Basic Training

13-17 Medical Care Provider

13-24 Medical Person-In-Charge

20-22 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

30-31 Advanced Firefighting Refresher

June 2024

1-2 Basic Training Revalidation

1-3 Basic Training Refresher

3rd Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

3-7 Basic Training

3-21 Terrestrial & Coastal Navigation

24-25 Basic Training Revalidation

26th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation
July 2024

15-18 Advanced Firefighting

15-2 Terrestrial & Coastal Navigation

22-23 Basic Training Revalidation

24th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

29-2 Basic Training

August 2024

5-9 Radar Observer Unlimited

12-16 Medical Care Provider

12-23 Medical Person-In-Charge

26-27 Basic Training Revalidation

26-30 Advanced Stability

28th Advanced Firefighting Revalidation

September 2024

4-7 Security Officer – Vessel, Company & Facility

9-13 Basic Training

9-13 Advanced Shiphandling (Week 1)

16-20 Advanced Shiphandling (Week 2)

16-27 GMDSS

23-26 ARPA

23-27 Advanced Meteorology
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The MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly is the official electronic newsletter of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots, 700 Maritime Blvd., Suite B, Linthicum Heights, MD 21090-1953. Phone: 410-850-8700; Fax: 410-850-0973. All rights reserved. The MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly©2023. Articles can be reprinted without prior permission if credit is given to The MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly.

For subscriptions, address changes or messages to the editor, send an email to communications@bridgedeck.org.